Hand hygiene coordinators share success stories at recent webinar

At a recent webinar held by the Health Quality & Safety Commission, hand hygiene coordinators shared initiatives that have worked in their district health boards (DHBs) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commission spokesperson Nikki Grae says common themes included:

• having the right support from senior leadership so that hand hygiene champions have authority within their areas to address best practice
• having hand sanitiser available in non-clinical areas, which is new for some DHBs
• good internal communication reminding staff that hand hygiene is ‘not just about COVID-19’.

Following on from the webinar, participants were surveyed, and results showed auditing in operating theatres is the special interest area most hand hygiene coordinators would like the Commission to focus on. Discussions with infection prevention and control stakeholders about what other areas should be focused on are scheduled, and a working group will help progress the most pressing quality improvement initiatives.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved, please email: HHNZ@hqsc.govt.nz.